Nigeria Prize for Literature advances with unveiling of 2026 poetry longlist

… As 11 out of 223 collections vie for $100,000

The Advisory Board for the Nigeria Prize for Literature has unveiled the longlist of the 2026 prize, which is dedicated to poetry.

According to a press statement signed by Sophia Horsfall, general manager, External Relations & Sustainable Development, NLNG, sponsors of the prize, the longlist of eleven outstanding poetry collections were selected from 223 entries received for the competition this year.

Speaking on the development, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, a professor and chairman, Advisory Board for the Prize, noted that the unveiling of the longlist marked a significant milestone in this year’s competition, while also reflecting the exceptional quality, creativity and diversity of contemporary poetry.

The longlisted 11 poetry titles are: Adult Love by Tanure Ojaide; Bakandimiya by Saddiq Dzukogi; Black Passport by Paul Akpomuje; 2000 Blacks by Ajibola Tolase; and Ceremony for The Nameless by Theresa Lola.

Others are: Corpus: Animistic Verses by Ayo Oyeku; Floral’s Love Colony by Tares Oburumu; The Origin of Wounds by Malik Gbolahan; The Years of Blood by Adebayo Agarau; Unbind Me Now by James Ugwu Eze and Why Does God Need a Gun by Ogaga Ifowodo.

Speaking further on the development, Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo described the announcement as an important stage in the 2026 edition of the prize, which is unarguably Africa’s biggest and most prestigious literary prize.

She noted that the collections demonstrate the remarkable capacity of poetry to illuminate human experience through thoughtful reflection, cultural memory and artistic expression.

The works, according to Adimora-Ezeigbo, revisit history while interrogating dominant historical narratives and exposing the forces that shape collective identities and social relations. She stated that despite their varied emphases, the books share a commitment to exploring the endurance of individuals and communities in the face of violence, oppression, and social fragmentation.

Commenting on style and language, the professor said that the books display an impressive diversity of poetic techniques marked by lyrical intensity, symbolic depth, and artistic innovation.

“Many employ densely poetic, allegorical, and elegiac modes that invite multiple layers of interpretation, while others draw extensively on folklore, oral traditions, and contemporary realities to create a compelling fusion of past and present,” Adimora-Ezeigbo said.

“Their language is generally fluid, evocative, and aesthetically refined, relying on vivid imagery, emotional resonance, and intellectual sophistication to communicate complex ideas. These works demonstrate how poetic language can illuminate social realities; challenge established perspectives and give voice to both individual and collective experiences”.

As the prize enters another stage, she noted that it will demand a closer reading of each work, with attention to language, form, originality and lasting literary value.

She also commended the judges for their work and reaffirmed the Advisory Board’s commitment to a credible process, literary excellence and the promotion of a strong reading culture.

The announcement of the 11-title longlist formally opens the next phase of the shortlist of three in August and possible announcement of the winner in October. The Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by NLNG, carries a cash award of $100,000 for the author of the winning book. In its 22nd year, the prize rotates annually across four genres – prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature – with the 2026 edition devoted to poetry.